The fourth one-day State-Level Master Athletics Championship 2024 was held at the JRD Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. The event, organized by the Master Athletic Association of Jharkhand, witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 1,135 master athletes across various age categories.
The championship commenced with a torch race led by international master athletes Achinto Pramanik and Avtar Singh, accompanied by international stars Lalita Rao, LM Mahanta, Satpal Saini, and Lalmohan Mahato. Avtar Singh, an international medalist, took the oath on behalf of all participants, pledging sportsmanship and dedication.
Chief Guest Mahendra Nath, Ranchi Territorial Manager of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), formally inaugurated the event. In his address, he lauded the participants, especially those aged 85 and above, and emphasized the importance of sports as an inspiration for the younger generation.
The opening ceremony also saw special guests such as Sapan Das, General Secretary of Master Athletic Association of West Bengal, Gurmeet Singh Tote, President of Tata Motors Workers’ Union, RK Singh, General Secretary of the union, Pankaj Sinha, Vice President of the District Council, Rajkumar Singh, a social worker, and Poorvi Ghosh, Chairperson of Lions Club. International javelin thrower Jujhar Singh and trainer Arif Imam were honored for their contributions to athletics.
The day featured over 180 events across 10 age groups for men and women, including field events like shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw, as well as track events such as 100m, 200m, 400m, and walking races. Players from 17 districts of Jharkhand participated, with East Singhbhum hosting the event, West Singhbhum claiming the most medals, and Saraikela Kharsawan securing third place.
Highlights included Gurusharan Singh’s record-setting 10.45-meter shot put throw in the 50+ category and Achinto Pramanik's triple gold medal win in the 70+ category. The competition ran from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with 120 technical officials ensuring its smooth execution.
